COTA National Policy Forum to prepare for coming changes in aged care industry

The aged care industry is changing as the Australian population continues to age, with greater numbers of residents entering care facilities.

With the recent announcement of the dementia supplement being cut, and uncertainty around future funding for such diseases, long-term planning needs to be in place.

The Council on the Ageing (COTA) has announced a planning conference to deal with such issues, being held on Tuesday 22 July. Running all day, the conference will seek to ensure the industry is able to handle the coming growth.

In a release posted on the website, the need for an integrated approach for aged care is explained, and the details of the coming forum.

A number of speakers will be in attendance, including Ian Yates, the Chief Executive of COTA. Mr Yates has served on a number of aged care national bodies, and is currently a member of several aged care committees.

Director of the Australian Population and Migration Research Centre, Professor Graeme Hugo is also speaking, and will be able to provide substantial insight into the future growth path of the Australian population. Mr Hugo is currently Deputy Chair of the Aged Care Financing Authority.

With this collation of experience, there's no doubt strong planning will come of the meeting – something that's essential for the industry.

By 2056, it's predicted that one in four people living within Australia will be over the age of 65 – with a staggering 1.8 million aged over 85. It's apparent that the various industry bodies (as well as aged care facilities) will need to adequately prepare.

Failure to put the proper preparations in place could lead to trouble over the next few years, and that's why the efforts of organisations like the COTA are so important. 

What do you think are the biggest opportunities for success in the aged care industry today? Please contact us and let us know!